Kids and Food Allergies

For several years, I’ve heard people say that food allergies are on the rise, but I never expected that my child would have one. No less two. Yet, with no known family history, we found ourselves in the allergist’s office for dairy and egg by the time our daughter was one.

It can be life-altering for a family – grocery shopping takes twice as long because you have to carefully read all the labels, restaurants are not always trustworthy, and what I can only imagine is the most challenging hardship for children is birthday parties. I always looked forward to the cake and ice cream myself, so what can you do when your child can’t eat these typical party foods? Find the best locations for safe alternatives in town!

Dairy and egg are the most common childhood allergies, so if your child is allergic to these or you know kids who are, become fast acquainted with the term vegan. A vegan diet eliminates all animal products, such as meat, dairy, and eggs so all of these products are safe for these two common food allergies. The vegan lifestyle is gaining popularity for its health benefits and ethical principals, and as a result, we happen to have a selection of vegan delicacies in our area. So if you are planning a birthday party, consider some of these options for your child or for their friends with allergies:

• Cakes by Happy Eatery. With locations in Centreville and Manassas, this bakery sells cupcakes and full-sized birthday cakes. We had our daughter’s first birthday cake made here and it was beautiful. Their vegan cake is dense chocolate with a light commercially-produced frosting that resembles whipped cream.
• Loving Hut. This all-vegan restaurant in Falls Church serves an extensive and reasonably priced Asian-inspired menu, and they offer cakes delivered from a Pennsylvania bakery that will blow your mind. That thing I said about health benefits of a vegan lifestyle does not apply to these decadent cakes.
• Red Velvet Cupcakery. With a location in Reston Town Center, a vegan cupcake is always available. While the chocolate cake is a bit grainy, the chocolate frosting is luscious.
• Sticky Fingers. A DC bakery that has to be mentioned, if for no other reason than their proof that vegan desserts are just as amazing as the traditional. They went up against conventional bakers and won Cupcake Wars… twice. When dairy and egg free cupcakes beat the typical variety, there is no need to say, “Sorry these treats are vegan”. People will just devour them and no one need be the wiser. Sticky Fingers’ cookies and brownies are available at most local Whole Foods bakeries.
• Whole Foods Market. As I mentioned, they sell Sticky Fingers’ treats. As well as a few items from Chez Hareg, another vegan pastry baker in Washington DC, but they also have vegan cookies and muffins in the self-serve area of the bakery. With notice, they can make vegan cakes to order.
• Make it your self! If you are the homemade type, don’t be intimidated! Soy, coconut, or almond milk will substitute beautifully in most recipes and there are products like Ener-g Egg Replacer that works like a charm. Vegan butter substitute like Earth Balance, makes a “butter cream” frosting that won’t raise any suspicions. And, if you are the no-fuss home baker, note that many of the prepared frostings in the baking aisle are dairy-free.